O.C.'s pre-eminent Shakespearean ponders life after the Bard

Tom Bradac will be retiring next year from Shakespeare Orange County, which he founded in 1992. Bradac also serves on the faculty at Chapman University. PAUL RODRIGUEZ, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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For more than four decades Bradac has brought Shakespeare's work to local and international audiences, most recently in his role as artistic director of Shakespeare Orange County. He has also taught drama to generations of aspiring actors as a theater professor at Chapman University. PAUL RODRIGUEZ, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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Bradac, 65, announced recently that he will leave Shakespeare Orange County after this year's summer season of two plays, “Twelfth Night” (July 19-Aug. 3) and “Macbeth” (Aug. 16-31). The group's future is uncertain as Garden Grove city council considers proposals for the management of SOC's home, the city-owned Festival Amphitheatre. PAUL RODRIGUEZ, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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Bradac founded Shakespeare Orange County in 1992 and directed and produced over 50 productions there. He was also the founder of the Grove Shakespeare Festival, shepherding 110 productions in 13 seasons from 1979-91. PAUL RODRIGUEZ, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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Bradac on his future plans: "The thing I always said is that eventually I'd like to go back on stage and do the things I wanted to do when I was younger. I want to do the little roles, cameos that pop in and out. I want to have the opportunity to do that around the country. For me that would be a lot of fun. And I don't have to worry about how many butts are in seats or whether the press is coming. I can get back to what I started in, which is acting." PAUL RODRIGUEZ, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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Alyssa Bradac, left, Jennifer Finley and Michael Nehring appear ni a 2009 Shakespeare Orange County production of "The Merchant of Venice." MARK SAMALA

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The Garden Grove City Council will consider proposals on the future management of the city-owned Festival Amphitheatre, which has been Shakespeare Orange County's home since 2004. FILE PHOTO: CINDY YAMANAKA, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

Orange County has more than its share of respected Shakespeareans, but nobody is as synonymous with the Bard of Avon as Thomas Bradac.

For more than four decades Bradac has brought Shakespeare's work to local as well as international audiences, most recently in his role as artistic director of Shakespeare Orange County. He has also taught drama to generations of aspiring actors as a theater professor at Chapman University.

Bradac, 65, announced recently that he will leave Shakespeare Orange County after this year's summer season of two plays, "Twelfth Night" (July 19-Aug. 3) and "Macbeth" (Aug. 16-31). Its future is uncertain as the Garden Grove City Council considers proposals for the management of the group's home, the city-owned Festival Amphitheatre.

Bradac founded Shakespeare Orange County in 1992 and directed and produced over 50 productions there. He was also the founder of the Grove Shakespeare Festival, shepherding 110 productions in 13 seasons from 1979 to 1991.

We talked to Bradac recently about his decision and asked him to reflect on his long career as it enters a new phase.

Q. Was this decision in the cards for a while?

A. I made a decision in the late fall. My wife told me I had to work (at Chapman University) for a few more years. So when I started looking at everything, I knew I had to start cutting back. After 34 years (of running a theater company) I felt like that's all I could do unless I was going to go out and do a lot of fundraising or doing audience development. At this point in my career and my life, it's not what I'm interested in.

Q. What was the university's reaction to your decision?

A. Shakespeare Orange County had a tighter tie to the university in its formative years through 2003 when our seasons were on campus. Then when we moved it to the amphitheater in Garden Grove (where Bradac's Grove Shakespeare Festival started in 1979) the relationship became less important. There's no real tie structurally between the two entities, even though I've been able to get students involved (in SOC) on a variety of different levels.

Q. What happens to Shakespeare Orange County after you leave?

A. The city will consider proposals, likely from all over. One of those proposals will be from an element of Shakespeare Orange County, probably under the same name. (SOC actor) John Walcutt is heading up a group to make that happen. He has wound down his film and TV career and he has a pension from the Screen Actors Guild. He has the time and wherewithal to put it together. He's about 10 years younger than I am, so it's a time in his life where it's something he wants. He started out at the old Grove Shakespeare Festival; he understands the space and the community.

Q. Is the city's amphitheater in good enough shape to continue supporting a theater company? It was bedeviled with maintenance problems in the past.

A. The city had been really gracious and helpful. They've done the (maintenance) on the facility. There's a small stipend for keeping things up. There are some groups in town that have contributed to keeping the facility going with improvements like upgraded lighting and sound equipment. The Strawberry Festival and the Garden Grove Community Foundation and other elements in the community have been very supportive.

Q. What will you do with your spare time?

A. I spent all weekend here on campus on (a workshop) with students. I won't have a day off for several weeks. So it's not like I'm suddenly going to have a lot of extra time. I may have normal time off now. I have a full-time job as a professor at the university.

Q. What was your favorite season with Shakespeare Orange County?

A. 2012 was a highlight. We went to Prague. We were invited to perform at La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts in front of 1,000 kids. It was out of the norm for us. And both shows we produced last year really clicked for the audiences. I want to walk away feeling good about everything that's been done, and that year allows me to do that.

Q. Creatively, what will take the place of directing professional actors?

A. The thing I always said is that eventually I'd like to go back on stage and do the things I wanted to do when I was younger. I want to do the little roles, cameos that pop in and out. I want to have the opportunity to do that around the country. For me that would be a lot of fun. And I don't have to worry about how many butts are in seats or whether the press is coming. I can get back to what I started in, which is acting.

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